The Projects

The research projects in the 2WAYS project are all within the life science field and have a European dimension and collaboration among scientists in several countries. They are ongoing or recently finished; many of them have been funded through the European Commission's Framework Programmes.

Live and let die
Apoptosis is a “cell suicide programme” which rapidly removes damaged or unwanted cells from the human body. Malfunctions in this process may result in neurodegenerative disorders, viral infections, AIDS or cancer. The project will develop an interactive game explaining the purpose and scientific questions regarding apoptosis, without requiring a basic knowledge of science.
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Gene Mutation
A gene mutation is a permanent change in the DNA that makes up a gene. Not all mutations are “bad news”  though, some have no influence at all, others may even be favourable. This project will create interactive games with particular emphasis on mutation due to ionising radiation, and will allow study of causes, effects and ethical issues. The games and presentations will address common public beliefs and fears regarding mutations and radiation.
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miNDstake
Illusions fool mind and senses: even if the eye is made up of some of the most amazing tissue in the body, vision has only partly to do with the retina, lens, and cornea...actually we "watch with the brain"; sometimes even knowing to be fooled, we must believe our eyes (and our body!). Our mistake is that we think the world we perceive coincides with the physical world. Scientific explainers lead visitors through exhibits, videos, pictures and role-plays, to discover personally that your brain transfers what the senses perceive and turn them into electronic impulses, in this way, for example, our visual nervous system approximates color, shape, and dimension; it is the job of consciousness to sort out these electronic impressions and make some coherent sense of them. Yesterday magicians amazed the crowd with this "tricks", tomorrow sensory illusions will help us understand and prevent some Neurological Diseases, today we play to know how the brain works and how to keep it fit.
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After Dolly
After Dolly includes biotechnological and ethical dimensions of new genetic engineering tools. The biotechnology may push the limits of our ethical understanding and use of animals. The research project INTEGRA gathers a multidisciplinary consortium to develop new tools and at the same time providing its participants with knowledge and skills for qualified discussions with society.
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Allergies
Based on three ongoing or finished projects studying the development and risk factors of asthma and allergies, a science theatre presentation will be developed. Scenes from the play will be complemented with scientific presentations  and interactive demonstrations and experiments. Perspectives that will be discussed are common myths, genetic research results and the impact of rural and urban environments for the development of asthma and allergies.
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Biomaterials
A Scottish/Latvian team has developed a new ceramic material with a modified surface. The material can be used as biomaterial for bone replacements and implants. This is the basis for a presentation with four “stops”: An overview of biomaterials, a short film about human bones, a presentation of some techniques and an opportunity for the visitor to create human bones from gypsum.
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Recreating life
This dialogue workshops aim at raising awareness about a major branch of contemporary biology. The techniques aimed at creating synthetic living organisms or merging living and artificial tissues have a great potential, but raise also ethical questions. Thanks to games and the use of news and fiction films, the presentation integrates technical and ethical elements. The workshops promote the willingness of future citizens to participate in decisions at the boundary of science and society.
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Puzzling Messages
Splicing is a basic cellular mechanism contributing to gene expression. It allows different proteins to be produced from a single gene. Almost all genes in animals and plants are spliced and aberrant splicing contributes to several diseases. A puzzle will make the principle of splicing a hands-on experience and scientists will use it for explaining their ongoing research. Visitors will be able to print their own puzzling messages onto a T-Shirt or their own certificate of “expert in splicing”.
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Wonderfood
Enteric infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for an estimated 2 millions deaths each year. Effective preventive and therapeutic interventions are not yet available for many diseases. A model system has been developed in which Lactobacillus, a GRAS microorganism, can be transformed with antibody fragment encoding vectors. This approach, which falls into the priority "Innovative approaches and interventions" and the work program "Development and production of new generation antibodies" represents a novel system for the induction of passive immunity that can be rapidly applied to populations at risk (for example through the drinking water, rehydrating solution or as a food supplement).
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Stem Cells
Stem cell research and possible future therapies bring hope to many people, but cause doubt and fear too, as it involves the use of cells from embryos. The presentation will use Huntingdon’s Disease as a platform for discussions and presentations. A lab will be recreated on stage, where scientists discuss their observations, as well as a café for participation of public, patients’  organisations, and researchers for the complex ethical issues regarding the use of stem cells.
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A Better Brain
The regenerative capacity of the human brain has been shown to be much bigger than previously expected. This capacity to build new neurons is influenced by life-style factors such as physical exercise, diet and environment. The Better Brain presentation lets visitors experience how it works on a molecular level and will encourage visitors to engage in a dialogue about  life-style factors and their impact on the brain. Scientists from Sweden and Germany will participate and guide.
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Vaccine safety
Dendritic cells are specialised cells of the immune system that triggers and control many types of immune response. Can these cells be used to treat cancer, HIV? Possibilities are being explored for using dendritic cells in vaccines as a new approach to immunotherapy. However, vaccines have raised concerns about safety and benefits in many countries. The presentations will be organised with exhibitions, debates and theater, as well as science parliaments, the latter particularly for school students.
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Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biologists draw on engineering principles to create new biological systems that are not found in nature. It is believed that synthetic biology in the future could  create microorganisms which can eliminate toxic waste and plants with greater nutritional value. However, it is important to involve and engage members of the public and the project will produce a kit for gene construction, to build plant species or control cell proliferation.
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Bechstein’s Bat
The Bechstein’s Bat is a so called “umbrella species” which can be used for general conservation methods and discussions. The Science project is based on the “Ecology, behaviour and population genetics of the forest living Bechstein's Bat (Myotis bechsteinii) in two glacial refuges”. A theatre play will – in a dialogical way – present the life, social system, habitat, behaviour and threats to the bat.
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The Complexity Experience
Systems biology is a rapidly emerging field of research, with a holistic approach to understanding biology at a system level. This means an examination of the structure and dynamics of cellular and organismal function, rather than the characteristics of isolated parts of a cell or organism. System level understanding is still far away, but is believed to have immense impact on future understanding of  diseases. The increased interest in systems biology the last one or two decades is connected to major breakthroughs in molecular biology and new processing power to handle large amounts of data.
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Sneeze!
Sneeze is based on a European research project called FLUMODCONT, which investigates spontaneuous behavioural responses to seasonal influenza and to an eventual influenza pandemic. It also investigates social acceptance of restriction measures during an eventual influenza pandemic.

Another research project POLYMOD has effected this 2WAYS event, too. POLYMOD aims to strengthen public health decision making by developing models of infectious diseases with the help of experts in many different fields.

The Sneeze! project will present these models to the public with focus on the influenza and the patterns of pandemia through hands-on workshops and scientific presentations.
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Robo-beetle
Engineering tools  for flight dynamics and control are used to analyse physiological and biomechanical data from real animals. This will help us learn more about nature’s solutions of various technical problems related e.g to flying. A Robo-Beetle, with associated display and educational material, will be used to create a dialogue between researchers and public at the science festival events. Visitors will have a way to find out more about skills, characteristics and specific features of insects.
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